Australia Council outlines revised grants program

The Australia Council for the Arts has today announced
changes to its grants program in response to the 2015-16 budget measures.

Australia Council Chief Executive Officer Tony Grybowski
said the Council is committed to delivering the best possible outcomes for the
arts sector, and for Australian audiences, within the new arts funding
framework.

“The Board and Executive have carefully considered how we
can provide the most effective support to Australian artists and arts
organisations within the framework of the Council’s legislative functions and
Strategic Plan goals. The revised funding model has been developed in response
to the budget measures and with the intention of providing support for the arts
which is complementary to the National Programme for Excellence in the Arts.

The Council will continue to deliver a grants program for
individuals, groups, and small to medium sized organisations, with assessment
by a national pool of expert peers. The Council plans to invest $12 million
over the two core grants rounds in 2015-16. This reflects a reduction in the
number of rounds being offered and will also include some changes to
eligibility criteria."

Key grants information for 2015-16:

The 2015-16 financial year activities should be considered as a transition year, with a number of existing contractual obligations still in place. This includes the $22.4 million commitment to existing Key Organisations to the end of 2016.

Australia Council core grant rounds

Two core
grants rounds in 2015-16 with deadlines in September 2015 and February 2016

The
published December 2015 round will be cancelled

September
core grant round includes:

Development grants for individuals and groups

Arts projects for individuals and groups

Arts projects for organisations

Fellowships (8 to be offered annually)

Playing Australia and the Contemporary Music Touring Program

February
core grant round includes:

Development grants for individuals and groups

Arts projects for individuals and groups

Arts projects for organisations (with a reduced maximum
limit)

Playing Australia and the Contemporary Music Touring Program

Dedicated funding for Artists with Disability is maintained

Playing Australia will be offered with a 1 December 2015 closing date.

International Residencies will continue to be offered annually. Applications close 1 December 2015.

Multi-year funding for organisations:

The Six-Year Funding for Organisations program will be replaced with a Four-Year funding model. Organisations will only need to submit one application by 1 December 2015 deadline. Decisions will be announced in May 2016, with funding to commence in January 2017.

Planned core grant rounds for 2016-17:

Three core
grant rounds in 2016-17 with closing dates in June 2016, October 2016 and
February 2017.

The Australia Council is currently developing a new
Corporate Plan which is slated to be published 31 August 2015. This Plan will
provide further details about our national and international development
activity (including market and audience development initiatives), Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander arts support, research and sector capacity building.

During this planning process the Council is also considering
potential cost saving opportunities and efficiencies in operating costs that
can be achieved from 2015-16.

Mr Grybowski said the Council remained uniquely positioned
to be a strong advocate for Australian arts, drawing on the rich arts expertise
of its staff and a deep knowledge base developed over almost half a century of
supporting the arts in this country.